LAWRENCEVILLE -- Several agencies serving the area have been awarded grants totaling $20,000 by the Jackson EMC Foundation, a charity funded by the electric cooperative's members through their donations to the Operation Round Up program.

The charity awarded $10,000 to Signs and Wonders in Lawrenceville, a non-profit organization that offers assistance to the homeless and needy.

A total of $7,600 was awarded to Good Samaritan Ministries of Buford to help fund the residential inmate recovery program, which provides inmates with three months of self-study, classes and work therapy.

In addition, $2,500 was given to the Spirit of Joy Food Bank in Flowery Branch to purchase food for more than 30 families served by the agency.

For more information, visit www.jacksonemc.com

Nonprofit organization has fixed 4,000 pets

DULUTH -- Planned PEThood, a local nonprofit organization, has announced that it has now helped over 4,000 families "fix their pets affordably."

Since September 2010, Planned PEThood has been offering spay and neuter surgeries in Duluth. More than 1,800 cats, 1,200 dogs and 1,000 feral cats have been fixed in about one year.

"We're so excited to have reached this milestone," said Lynnette Purves, co-director of Planned PEThood. "Our goal is to spay and neuter 5,000 dogs and cats in our second year of operation."

The organization's veterinarians perform surgery by appointment Monday through Thursday. For more information, call 678-561-3491, or visit www.plannedpethoodga.com.

Gwinnett Gab appears in the Thursday and Sunday editions of the Gwinnett Daily Post. To submit an item to Gwinnett Gab email gab@gwinnettdailypost.com.